How can we utilize drones in construction fields?

For many industries, drones have changed the traditional approach of improving safety and efficiency. These drones, or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are playing an increasingly vital role on construction job sites across the country. The can cheaply gather data and images that were recently expensive or impossible to obtain.

When it comes to job site safety, UAVs help ensure that employees are adhering to safe practices and can help detect safety challenges before they occur. The flying cameras can also replace human eyes in unsafe locations, such as roofs, high-up equipment, structurally unstable buildings and the underside of bridges.

From an efficiency perspective, drone technology is changing the way construction companies do business. Now, gone are the days that a project manager had to travel to every jobsite to walk the premises. The drone can capture this footage automatically, saving time and helping the bottom line. By employing UAVs, project managers can have eyes and ears at all their sites at the same time.

Daily aerial reports captured by the UAVs help project managers gauge real-time progress on their job sites. This data enables managers to detect the amount of progress that has been accomplished and compare against the schedule and budget, on any given day, on any given job. As a result, anticipating the variety of potential issues becomes much easier.

Drones can also be used throughout the construction process to capture details that would otherwise be too cost-prohibitive to document. For example, a drone can help document the precise location of rebar within a concrete structure with unmatched accuracy.

Drones are also a project manager’s best friend for reasons beyond progress and efficiency. To keep job sites more secure, drones are being used to help monitor the site to protect against theft and trespassing. In addition to contractors, property owners are realizing the benefits of UAV utilization on their projects.

For many construction companies, UAVs are essentially replacing traditional aerial photography and videography. These flying cameras capture more in-depth aerial footage, providing a much more robust 3-D view of the job site throughout the entire construction process than previously available. This helps property owners envision how the completed project will actually look. In fact, many companies view the interpretations generated from drones to be a strong marketing and business development tool.

This new technology also decreases a number of costs – from replacing helicopter pilots to decreasing the need for cranes –which is a savings that is passed on to the client. As the cost and availability of this technology continues to decrease, drones will become increasingly more prevalent on construction job sites.

With this new technology comes a myriad of complex liability and coverage issues related to insuring the use of commercial UAVs.

The number one thing to keep in mind is the non-registered use of drones can lead to thousands of dollars in fines, or more. In fact, last year the FAA proposed a $1.9 million fine for a company flying unregistered drones in New York and Chicago. Restrictions on the locations and altitudes permitted for UAV flights are an ongoing challenge of which federal and local authorities are still grappling.

Under the standard commercial general liability policies, UAVs are excluded from coverage. Carriers are currently in the process of developing policies to cover the unique exposures presented by drones, but it is a very new industry and the U.S. is still without clear regulatory guidelines. Regardless of the specifics of future regulations, the following general types of coverage will be needed for the use of UAVs in commercial construction: bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury, and invasion of privacy.

Given that the use of UAVs is completely new ground for the construction and insurance industry, it is imperative to work with an insurance advisor that specializes in these unique exposures and risks. Key underwriting information includes: do you have FAA Approval/333 waiver, a Certificate of Authorization (COA), level of training and experience, and specifications of the drone and use.

While insurance coverage for commercial drones is largely undefined, there is no denying that UAV use is a growth area for commercial construction. While you are staying ahead of the game in this expanding field, be sure you’re covering yourself along the way.

One of the most beneficial uses of drones, especially in remote locations, is for site assessment. Instead of having investors, designers and contractors constantly meeting on-site to walk down the project, some of these meetings can be held remotely using drone video and web conferencing platforms. This eliminates a significant amount of the costs associated with site assessment. 

iapologize for the answer and thanks

to study the pre construction of Dams

I apologize for not answering specialist

Thank you for invitation for this nice question.

 I think it could be used for monitoring and controlling specially for places that supervision is not easy for engineers.

it might be useful for carrying some small tools ;)

You already have lots of software employed, are using sophisticated measuring tools, good quality construction materials and so on. Have you ever thought: what if I could get a bird’s eye view to my project, without employing a full blown flying machine, jet pack or a helicopter? It sure would help if you do so. Or, what if every time there is a problem at the site, you do not have to run there and are able to literally employ eyes and ears on the job site?

You can do all of the above and more with a drone. In fact, most of the advanced construction projects are transformed with drones. It is only a matter of time that drones become mainstream technology for your construction projects. Why not spearhead this revolution? Read through these quick pointers to get started on how to use a drone in construction projects.

1.Surveying

You can use drones to quickly survey your job site and build maps. Instead of using human resources, heavy machinery & expensive surveying tools, that produce complex data, you can get the job done in half the time & money, with greater accuracy.

2.Showing Clients the Progress

When clients stay away from the job site and cannot afford to come to the site again & again & your current pictures are just not doing justice, drones can be an inventive way to keep them happy. Just be sure to cover only those areas that are in good progress .

3.Monitoring Job Sites

When you have to frequently shuttle between multiple job sites, or have taken up simultaneous renovation & facelift for multiple properties; putting up a drone to monitor the progress, work, safety standards and much more can save you a lot of energy, time & money.

4.Inspecting Structures

Instead of employing heavy software, lots of people and relying on complex readings, you can employ a drone to get a first hand view of how solid your structures are, how aesthetically pleasing they are coming up, and where they are moving out of the plan, all in a jiffy.

5.Better Safety Records

With your eyes & ears in the sky, all the time, you will be in a much better position to locate that unstable pillar, precariously balanced laborer and not deep enough excavations. If, you keep up the drone – survey, gradually you will build an excellent safety system and your reputation.

7.Keeping the Project On-track, On-Budget

By identifying the parts of the project that are going off-track, having the ability to prevent any causalities, rigorously monitoring your job sites; you will be much better prepared to remove any additions to project time and cost.

Sounds like a plan? So, go ahead and make your mark with a drone in construction projects spearheading this trend in your industry or just take your next home remodeling to the next level! Check out SirDrones.com if you are convinced and ready to get started!

thanks for invition ,,,,,,,,,,

i agree with experts answers

Leave answer for professionals

It can be used for monitoring developments

Excellent expert feedback on the Drones. Definitely any technology usage will have Pros and cons. Our duty is to maximize the advantages and care about disadvantages.